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Elections board can't intervene in John Doe

The Associated Press
10:47 a.m. CDT July 24, 2014

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker addresses members of the media and volunteers with the state's Republican Party during a stop at the Madison GOP field office in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, July 23, 2014.(Photo: AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, John Hart)

MADISON — A federal appeals court has rejected the Wisconsin elections board's request to intervene in an ongoing lawsuit over an investigation into Gov. Scott Walker's 2012 recall campaign and a host of conservative groups.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the Government Accountability Board request.

The board asked to intervene so it could make its case about what campaign activity can be regulated. Prosecutors worked with the board in launching the probe into whether Walker's campaign and others broke state laws.

The Wisconsin Club for Growth sued in federal court and a judge in May stopped the probe. Prosecutors have appealed to the 7th Circuit.

While the board's request to join the lawsuit was denied, the appeals court says it can file its own separate legal brief.